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I woke up the next day barely able to walk – but every ounce of discomfort and pain was worth it

Dominic Graham

An update on the Parkinson’s 100 Challenge: Dom’s Duathlon

Global update

Author: Dominic GrahamPublished: 29 October 2015

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Relieved to have bounced back from injury, we hear from Dominic Graham after his duathlon to raise money for the Parkinson’s 100 Challenge – the EPDA’s fundraising event

Hooray, it’s over! I completed my Parkinson’s Challenge on Sunday (18 October) and am very pleased with the result. Following my injury last month, which stopped me from doing my chosen event in London’s Richmond Park, I signed up to another duathlon, this time in Kent. Only this time, the runs were cross country and not on the roads! So I ended up running up and down 15km of hills in the slippery grass and muddy conditions – and it was massively more difficult than I imagined! Add a 40km bike ride in the middle and I think I earned my supporters’ money.

In the end, I came 30th out of 60 competitors so I am very content with my efforts and ability.

I must now say a final and huge ‘thank you’ to all my wonderful friends and family for digging deep into their pockets to support people with Parkinson’s. I am deeply grateful and humble that they wanted to support me like they did. So far (the money keeps coming!) the run has raised about €2,100, which is simply brilliant. Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me already!

I woke up the next day barely able to walk – but every ounce of discomfort and pain was worth it. And, importantly, it’s simply nothing compared to what people with Parkinson’s and their families go through every day of their lives. I hope my contribution will go a small way towards improving things for them.

Want to join the fundraising efforts? More details on the Parkinson’s 100 Challenge are here

IN THE NEWS

Carefully selected news stories from the international Parkinson's community.

3 weeks ago

Excess calcium in brain could cause Parkinson’s

Researchers at the University of Cambridge, UK, have discovered that excess levels of calcium in brain cells may lead to the formation of the toxic clusters that signify Parkinson’s disease. The findings, reported in the journal ‘Nature Communications’, show that calcium can influence the interaction between small membranous structures inside nerve endings, which are important for neuronal signaling in the brain, and alpha-synuclein – the protein associated with Parkinson’s disease. Dr Janin Lautenschläger, the paper’s first author, said: “This is the first time we’ve seen that calcium influences the way alpha-synuclein interacts with synaptic vesicles. We think that alpha-synuclein is almost like a calcium sensor. In the presence of calcium, it changes its structure and how it interacts with its environment, which is likely very important for its normal function.”

Jewish people with Crohn’s disease more likely to carry LRRK2 gene mutation

A scientific study has concluded that there may be a link between Parkinson’s and Crohn’s disease within the Ashkenazi Jewish community. The study’s findings, which were published in the journal ‘Science Translational Medicine’, has found that members of the population with Crohn’s disease are more likely to carry the LRRK2 mutation which is a significant cause of Parkinson’s. Lead researcher Dr Inga Peter, professor of genetics and genomic sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine, New York, US, said: “Crohn’s disease is a complex disorder with multiple genes and environmental factors involved, which disproportionately affects individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. “The presence of shared LRRK2 mutations in patients with Crohn’s disease and Parkinson’s disease provides refined insight into disease mechanisms and may have major implications for the treatment of these two seemingly unrelated diseases.”

Could caffeine in the blood help diagnose Parkinson’s?

Blood caffeine levels could be promising diagnostic biomarkers for early-stage Parkinson’s, Japanese researchers reported in the journal ‘Neurology’ earlier this month. The study found that people with Parkinson’s had lower levels of caffeine and caffeine metabolites in their blood than people without the disease, at the same consumption rate. Caffeine concentrations also were decreased in Parkinson’s patients with motor fluctuations than in those without Parkinson’s. However, patients in more severe disease stages did not have lower caffeine levels. The study’s authors, Dr David Munoz, University of Toronto, and Dr Shinsuke Fujioka, Fukuoka University, suggested that the “decrease in caffeine metabolites occurs from the earliest stages of Parkinson’s.” They added: “If a future study were to demonstrate similar decreases in caffeine in untreated patients with Parkinson’s […] the implications of the current study would take enormous importance.”